Riverhead Police Blotter: Man struck by car, then arrested

A pedestrian who was struck in a car crash on Industrial Boulevard last Friday was arrested after an investigation revealed that the man, who refused treatment and tried to leave Peconic Bay Medical Center, was wanted on a Suffolk County Police warrant.

Nicholas Savino, 32, of Riverhead was taken to the hospital by ambulance, but police soon discovered he was wanted on a bench warrant for a petit larceny charge. After arriving at the hospital, police saw Mr. Savino refusing treatment; he was signing a medical release and trying to leave the emergency room, officials said. He was stopped by police officers and arrested, but not before arguing with the officers and making threatening comments during his arrest, police said.

Mr. Savino was taken to Riverhead police headquarters, processed and turned over to Suffolk County Police.
• A new Mazda crossover SUV was stolen from Eagle Auto Mall in Riverhead last Wednesday, according to a police report. A sales manager for the dealership told cops the vehicle, a black 2011 Mazda CX7, was taken from the rear parking lot of the property sometime between Dec. 20 and Jan. 25. He said a key to the vehicle was missing, though he didn’t know if the key was in the car when it went missing.

The SUV is valued at $29,258 and detectives are investigating the incident.

• Tara Minnick, 30, of Riverhead was arrested last Tuesday and charged with fourth-degree welfare fraud, according to an arrest report. Ms. Minnick turned herself in at town police headquarters and was arraigned in Riverhead Justice Court. Additional information was not immediately available.

• Robin Velez, 49, of Mastic was arrested last Tuesday and charged with fourth-degree grand larceny after she allegedly stole more than $1,400 from a local Kmart, police said. Ms. Velez, a former employee at the Route 58 Kmart, is accused of using fraudulent returns, gift cards and purchases of prepaid “Money Pak” cards totaling $1,409.57, police said. She was released without bail.

• An elderly Riverhead woman was scammed out of more than $10,400 over the course of about three months, Riverhead police said.

The woman said she was contacted last October by an unknown person who said she would receive $1 million and a new Mercedes Benz if she forwarded the man money to complete a transfer. From Oct. 20 to Jan. 25, the victim transferred $10,442 through Western Union and pre-paid “Money Pak” cards. The victim said she was told by the suspects that a previous transfer did not go through, and so forwarded more money over the course of the scam.

It was not until her bank contacted her about the missing money that she realized she had been tricked, police said. Detectives are investigating the incident.

• Tires valued at more than $1,000 were stolen from a local auto store, police said. Seventeen tires worth $1,083.15 were taken from Scotty’s D & E Tire Service on Main Road in Riverhead sometime between last September and last Friday, according to a police report.

An employee at the store said he remembered placing the tires on a rack and later saw that they were missing. Police are still investigating the incident.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.

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